Phone Cost & Billing Questions
1. How much do cell phones cost?
Cell phones are often given away by carriers or sold at low subsidized prices to consumers who commit to a 1, 2, or 3 year service contract. The same phones purchased without service generally cost between $150 for a basic analog phone and $500 for a digital phone.
2. Why are some phones free?
They’re not. Many phones are so heavily subsidized that the initial cost to consumers is nothing. Carriers subsidize phones in order to promote business and increase the number of subscribers on their network. Keep in mind that if you sign up for a subsidized phone and then lose it, you will not get another one for free. You will need to pay full retail which could be $300 or more.
3. How much is phone service?
The cost of cellular service varies greatly depending on the service package, how long you talk, how many long-distance calls are made, and what calling features you subscribe to. Use the cellphones.ca service plan advisor to find a plan that’s right for you.
4. What is airtime and how is it billed?
Airtime is the actual time that a cell phone is in use for a conversation. This includes incoming and outgoing calls. Airtime can either be billed by the minute or by the second and billing starts the instant you push ‘SEND’ until you push ‘END’.
5. Am I billed for calls I make if I get a busy signal?
No.
6. Am I billed for calls I make that ring but aren’t answered?
No.
7. Am I charged when I dial a toll-free number?
Yes. You will be charged at your normal airtime rate, however, you do not have to pay any long-distance charges.
8. Can I use a calling card with my cell phone?
Yes. The procedure is the same as from a wired phone.
9. Am I charged when people call me?
Yes. Unlike wired telephone services, you are charged whenever your phone is in use, regardless of whether you made the call or someone called you.
10. What are peak and off-peak hours?
Peak hours refer to the hours of the day when phone usage is highest. Off-peak hours are periods when phone usage is lowest. Specific peak and off-peak periods vary from carrier to carrier, but generally peak periods are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Off-peak periods are all other times, including weekends.
11. Can I use my phone for more minutes than my plan allows?
Yes. There is generally no limit on the number of minutes you can use. You will be billed on a per-minute or per-second basis for any calls that exceed your monthly allotment.
12. Do I have to pay a deposit to get a cell phone and/or service?
Depending on your service provider and your credit history, you may be required to pay a security deposit. Carriers usually run a credit check on every new customer. If you have good credit history you probably will not be asked to pay a deposit.
